Brezno

For other uses, see Brezno (disambiguation).
Brezno
city
City center of Brezno
Flag
Coat of arms
Brezno
Location of Brezno in the Banská Bystrica Region
Brezno
Brezno (Slovakia)
Coordinates: 48°48′14″N 19°38′37″E / 48.80389°N 19.64361°E / 48.80389; 19.64361
Country Slovakia
RegionBanská Bystrica
DistrictBrezno
First mentioned1265
Government
 • MayorTomáš Abel
Area
[1]
 • Total
121.95 km2 (47.09 sq mi)
 (2022)
Elevation
[3]
504 m (1,654 ft)
Population
 (2024)[2]
 • Total
19,671
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
977 01[3]
Area code+421 48[3]
Vehicle registration plate (until 2022)BR
Websitewww.brezno.sk

Brezno (Slovak: [ˈbreznɔ] ⓘ; 1927–1948: Brezno nad Hronom; German: Bries or Briesen; Hungarian: Breznóbánya) is a town in central Slovakia with a population of around 21,000.

Etymology

The name is derived from the Slovak word "breza" for birch.[4]

Geography

The municipality lies at an altitude of 504 metres (1,654 ft)[3] and covers an area of 121.95 km2 (47.09 sq mi) (2024).[5]

Brezno is located within the Horehronské podolie basin. Brezno lies between the Low Tatras mountain range and the Slovak Ore Mountains, both of which belong to the Inner Western Carpathians. The town is situated on the right bank of the River Hron, which flows through town from the east, in the direction of the city of Banská Bystrica, approximately 45 kilometres (28 miles) west. The local climate in the basin is rather cold, with an annual average of 6.6 °C (43.9 °F) and an annual precipitation of 700–750 mm (28–30 in).

Further information: Havrania Dolina

History

The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times, but the current town arose from an old Slovak settlement, next to which newly arrived German miners erected a typical market square in the early 13th century. The first written evidence of the town's existence is dated 1265 when King Béla IV of Hungary issued a charter for hunters from the area of Liptov, allowing them to use the woods around the settlement known as Berezuno. The name is derived from the Slovak word "breza" for birch. In the nineteenth century Brezno was a typical, almost purely Slovak town and was one of the centers of the Slovak national movement.

After the Second World War the town developed into an industrial center. By far the largest industrial concern was Mostaren Brezno, a construction company which specialized in crane construction for the whole of Central Europe. Mostaren Brezno's restructuring in the early '90s caused high unemployment in the whole region. Since the late '90s, Brezno has built a large retail sector and promoted itself and the whole region as a tourist destination. Sports games and events such as the European Biathlon Cup and golf championships are held regularly.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
198017,872—    
199122,469+25.7%
200122,875+1.8%
200522,279−2.6%
200622,221−0.3%
201121,894−1.5%
201221,161−3.3%
201321,534+1.8%
201820,953−2.7%
Source: [6]
Population statistic (10 years)[7]
Year1994200420142024
Count22,98122,41721,33119,671
Difference −2.45% −4.84% −7.78%
Population statistic[7]
Year20232024
Count19,79019,671
Difference−0.60%

It has a population of 19,671 people (31 December 2024).[8]

Ethnicity

Census 2021 (1+ %)[9][10]
EthnicityNumberFraction
Slovak18,64392.93%
Not found out12546.25%
Romani3301.64%
Total20,061

In year 2021 was 20,061 people by ethnicity 18,643 as Slovak, 1254 as Not found out, 330 as Romani, 142 as Czech, 50 as Hungarian, 42 as Other, 25 as Vietnamese, 25 as Russian, 19 as Rusyn, 19 as German, 19 as Moravian, 16 as Polish, 11 as Ukrainian, 7 as Jewish, 7 as Italian, 6 as Chinese, 6 as Serbian, 3 as French, 2 as Greek, 1 as Irish, 1 as Romanian, 1 as Austrian, 1 as Bulgarian, 1 as English and 1 as Albanian.

Religion

Census 2021 (1+ %)[11]
ReligionNumberFraction
Roman Catholic Church10,00249.86%
None627531.28%
Not found out19069.5%
Evangelical Church11325.64%
Greek Catholic Church2411.2%
Total20,061

In year 2021 was 20,061 people by religion 10,002 from Roman Catholic Church, 6275 from None, 1906 from Not found out, 1132 from Evangelical Church, 241 from Greek Catholic Church, 84 from Other and not ascertained christian church, 76 from Christian Congregations in Slovakia, 66 from Jehovah's Witnesses, 66 from Ad hoc movements, 61 from Other, 31 from Paganism and natural spirituality, 26 from Eastern Orthodox Church, 20 from Calvinist Church, 14 from Seventh-day Adventist Church, 12 from Buddhism, 10 from United Methodist Church, 8 from Baptists Church, 7 from Apostolic Church, 5 from Bahá'i Community, 4 from Old Catholic Church, 4 from Islam, 4 from Hinduism, 3 from Church of the Brethren, 2 from Czechoslovak Hussite Church, 1 from Jewish community and 1 from Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Sports

The town's three sports clubs with the highest attendance are HC Brezno, FC Brezno and Biathlon Club Brezno. Other sports clubs include Volleyball Club Brezno, Cycle Club Brezno, and Swim Club Brezno.

The hockey club HC Brezno represents the town as part of the 1st senior league since the 2009/10 season. Therefore, the Brezno town council decided to reconstruct it's indoor stadium in 2009. During the reconstruction, new seats were added and the stadium was renamed the Brezno Arena; total capacity was increased to 2,500 seats.

Notable people

Twin towns – sister cities

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Slovakia

Brezno is twinned with:[12]

  • Courthouse
  • Plague column
  • Modern architecture
  • Catholic church and town museum

See also

References

  1. ^ "Hustota obyvateľstva - obce [om7014rr_obc=AREAS_SK, v_om7014rr_ukaz=Rozloha (Štvorcový meter)]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2025-03-31. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  2. ^ "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2025-03-31. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  3. ^ a b c d "Základná charakteristika". www.statistics.sk (in Slovak). Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2015-04-17. Retrieved 2022-03-31.
  4. ^ Štefánik, Martin; Lukačka, Ján, eds. (2010). Lexikón stredovekých miest na Slovensku [Lexicon of Medieval Towns in Slovakia] (PDF) (in Slovak and English). Bratislava: Historický ústav SAV. p. 140. ISBN 978-80-89396-11-5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-03-02. Retrieved 2016-11-21.
  5. ^ "Hustota obyvateľstva - obce [om7014rr_obc=AREAS_SK, v_om7014rr_ukaz=Rozloha (Štvorcový meter)]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2025-03-31. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  6. ^ "Population statistics".
  7. ^ a b "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2025-03-31. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  8. ^ "Počet obyvateľov podľa pohlavia - obce (ročne) [om7101rr_obce=AREAS_SK]". Statistical Office of the Slovak Republic. 2025-03-31. Retrieved 2025-03-31.
  9. ^ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  10. ^ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  11. ^ "Population - Basic results". www.scitanie.sk. Statistical Office of the Slovak republic. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  12. ^ "Partnerské mestá" (in Slovak). Brezno. Retrieved 2019-09-03.

Genealogical resources

The records for genealogical research are available at the state archive "Státný Archiv in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia"

  • Roman Catholic church records (births/marriages/deaths): 1656-1904 (parish A)
  • Lutheran church records (births/marriages/deaths): 1784-1896 (parish A)
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